Steak & Lube construction gets in gear

PINELLAS PARK -- The Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant that is supposed to bring 150 jobs to the area and give patrons their first look at an auto/garage nostalgia chain is beginning construction.

The small chain serves Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Pinellas Park restaurant, to be built at 10400 49th St. N, represents its first move into Florida.

Pinellas Park waived nearly $12,000 in land development fees to snag the restaurant.

The city didn't go in search of Quaker Steak & Lube. But when officials found out the chain was considering three locations in Pinellas County, they "courted him pretty heavily," said Susan Walker, business and neighborhood development director. She was referring to local franchise owner Bill Church, president and chief executive officer of Quaker American LLC.

Quaker Steak & Lube bills itself as a family restaurant, featuring entrees such as Cam-Burger, French Dip Stick or New York Drag Strip. The Pinellas Park restaurant will seat approximately 300.

Mantrap Hair Salon moving

The sign saying a CVS Drugstore soon will be built at 131st Street and Park Boulevard near Seminole implies that the Mantrap Hair Salon on that spot is out of business or will be out of business.

Not true, says Mantrap owner Carole Proulx.

"Ever since they put the big signs up, we've been getting calls because people think we are closing down," Proulx said.

She said her salon will be moving to new quarters at 13177 Park Blvd., which is the space next door to where she is now. She sold her land and building to CVS and got the lot next door and a new building out of the deal.

The new salon is supposed to be ready at the end of August. In the meantime, Mantrap remains open for business at 13101 Park Blvd., its home for the past 24 years.

CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis said the new drugstore should be open by November. Proulx said a sign advertising her salon would be displayed along with a CVS sign at the corner of the intersection.

Waterfall store opens on 22nd

ST. PETERSBURG -- RicoRock Inc., a California company that manufactures and sells waterfall kits, including the boulders, has set up shop here at 2534 22nd St. N.

RicoRock holds seminars to train people to install waterfalls and boulders in yards, ponds and swimming pools. It also does commercial work.